Former teacher gets GOP nod to challenge DeLauro

Pledges to work to ‘restore our liberties and economic prosperity’

The Republican Party has selected a candidate to run in the Third District against longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, which includes a part of Shelton.

James Brown of Stratford, left, who won the Republican endorsement to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro in the Third District, with Mike Krenesky of Beacon Falls at the Republican State Convention.

James Brown of Stratford, a math teacher and track coach, won the GOP endorsement with 85% of the vote and now will face the uphill task of challenging DeLauro, a 12-term incumbent who has consistently won re-election in landslides.

Brown said his goal is “to restore liberty and honesty back in Washington, D.C. Every door knock we make, every public event we attend, and every dollar raised will help us restore our liberties and economic prosperity.”

Brown won the party endorsement at the Republican State Convention on Friday. He has stepped down from his teaching job to focus on his congressional campaign, but remains a high school coach.

Doing his part for the country

“I am running not because I have to, but because I feel compelled to do my part to help our country climb out of the hole the extreme-left Democrats have dropped us into,” Brown said.

“I am running because Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, financed by special interests, has seen 24 years too many serving the hurting citizens of Connecticut,” he said.

If elected, Brown said he will work to reduce federal mandates on businesses and education, to find viable private sector solutions to healthcare and repeal Obamacare, and support and strengthen national security.

Teacher for more than two decades

James Brown

Brown was born and raised in Newtown, and taught in the Stratford public schools for 21 years. He has been a track-and-field and cross country coach for 19 years. He previously taught in Bridgeport and Texas.

He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Connecticut.